Air update
ITV’S hit documentary at sea will be straight back on our screens next Thursday.
The Cruise returns for its fourth season and the three weekly episodes will follow the passengers and crew on Star Princess as she sails around incredible Alaska.
Viewers will see the 3,100-passenger Star passing glaciers, with dolphins, seals, whales and huskies also putting in an appearance. The ship will call at destinations such as the
state capital Juneau plus Skagway and Ketchikan.
Several new crew members will appear including Captain Tuvo, who takes the helm and acts as an unofficial tour guide.
The third series, set in the Med, concluded only last week and was broadcast on Thursdays and repeated on Sundays with a combined average audience of almost 4.5 million. Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville will again narrate.
itv.com princess.com A new helicopter service from Land’s End airport to the Isles of Scilly will take off from May.
Island Helicopters will operate 15-minute flights to St Mary’s and Tresco year round, up to six days a week, with a maximum of eight return trips a day.
Passengers can leave their car at Land’s End, or there is a park and ride service which will chauffeur them from Penzance train station in 15 minutes.
The new route is in addition to the Skybus fixed-wing flights from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter, and the seasonal Scillonian III ferry from Penzance.
Tickets will go on sale in April and fares will start at €244 return.
Helicopter flights to the islands from Penzance stopped six years ago after the operators said it was a loss-making route.
islesofscilly-travel.co.uk
■■Meals in Air Transat’s Club Class on transatlantic flights between Britain and Canada get an upgrade from May 1.
The award-winning Montreal-based leisure carrier will introduce the third version of its Chef’s Menu by Quebec’s Daniel Vezina.
Dishes will include pork filet mignon with blueberries, chicken cordon bleu garnished with smoked meat and salmon fillet with noodles. Your choice comes with a cheese plate, dessert and glass of wine.
The meals will also be available at €17 in economy.
However, the standard complimentary economy menu also gets refreshed with new offerings such as chicken provencale with orzo, broccoli and carrots, or penne in rosé sauce, topped with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and parsley. All meals will include a salad, sweet treat and glass of wine.
airtransat.com
■■Holland America Line has launched EXC In-depth Voyages on its 1,258-passenger Maasdam for her September to April season.
The ‘’thoughtful and immersive’’ itineraries cover photography, science and nature, arts and culture, food and drink, plus history and active exploration.
Over the winter, Maasdam will visit 154 ports in 36 countries on 12 cruises, including calls at Easter Island, New Zealand, Cambodia, the Maldives and French Polynesia. hollandamerica.com.